RJD to not contest 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections: Lalu Prasad Yadav

Gopalganj: RJD President Lalu Prasad on Tuesday said his party would not field any candidate in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election and would work in favour of "secular" forces. "RJD will not field any candidate in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh election," he told reporters in his native district.

File image of Lalu Prasad Yadav. AFP

The RJD chief said his party's prime objective was to defeat communal forces led by BJP and RSS. "The party would work in favour of secular forces in the UP polls," he said. Asked if he would extend assistance to the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, Prasad said, "SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is my 'samdhi' and I will definitely take special care of him."

While Prasad has announced that his party would keep away from UP polls, his major ally in the grand secular alliance in Bihar, JD(U) is active in the northern state. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is also national President of JD(U) went to Lucknow today in connection with celebration of Chhatrapati Sahu Jee Maharaj's birth anniversary, organised by Bahujan Samaj Swabhiman Sanghrash Samiti of RK Chaudhary, aide-turned foe of BSP chief Mayawati.

Kumar has made around half-a-dozen trips to Uttar Pradesh recently in connection with programmes aimed at prohibition. His frequent visits to the state is seen in political circle as his intent to play an 'important' role in the Assembly election in that state.